Adobe has launched Creative Cloud Express, a rebranded version of its free graphic design tool Adobe Spark. With social media templates and video editing features, the platform could be a powerful, accessible tool for digital journalists.
What does the app offer?
The platform provides simplified versions of Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere Pro. Users can edit photos, create graphics, and make short videos.
It also includes features from Adobe’s AI tool, Sensei. Users can remove backgrounds from images, merge videos, and create GIFS with one click.
Image Credit: Mika Baumeister
What’s the difference between Creative Cloud Express and Spark?
Creative Cloud Express’s interface is more streamlined than Spark’s, and the platform offers more intuitive, easy-to-use features. The new platform also offers more templates, more Adobe Stock images, and new ‘Quick Action’ features. However, critics of the platform said that the new app is simply a rebrand of Spark.
How much does it cost?
Creative Cloud Express is free – making it an appealing option for those hesitant to pay up for Adobe’s pricier apps. There’s also a premium version of the platform boasting more templates, access to Adobe Stock photos, and an instant resizing feature, which makes it easier to adapt graphics for different social media platforms.
Which is better: Creative Cloud Express or Canva?
Canva has been a popular tool for digital journalists since it was founded in 2013. The free graphic design platform offers easy-to-use templates for social media posts. In November 2021, Canva also launched a video editing tool.
Both apps provide similar services, allowing users to create slick designs via a user-friendly interface. Canva currently dominates the market, offering a wider variety of templates, integration with other popular apps, and more free features.
However, Creative Cloud Express’s Quick Action tools – such as the ability to instantly remove backgrounds from images – could make it a favourable option.